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Evan internally fumed while his face threatened to flush his embarrassment onto the surface. So much for a good first impression on his sister’s friends.

“I’m terribly sorry about all this,” he said, flashing another charming little smile. “My house is just up ahead. This way, if you will.”

As the group hurriedly followed Evan’s direction, their spirits rising once more, Evan glanced back at Delos, who stood still in his place, smile intact.

With a hesitant glance towards the group, Evan offered, “Would you like to come along?”

Delos’s smile widened, but he shook his head. “Not today.”

Evan paused. He didn’t know why he’d imagined Delos would jump at the first opportunity to come over to his house. He was clearly one of those people who easily got attached and got along with everyone on the go.

“Well, then—”

“‘A sheep in disguise, a fox to hunt,’” Delos mused, catching Evan by surprise. “‘In search of warmth, a heart is burnt.’”

Evan stilled. A momentary uneasiness took root in his gut for some reason. “What…?”

Delos shrugged lightly. “Just something I read today.”

“Oh. Uh…” Evan slowly nodded, trying to brush off the twitching in his nerves. “That’s…good. Well, I, uh… I’ll see you around.”

Delos waved. “Defiantly.”

You mean “definitely”?

As Evan turned around, he shook his head with a sigh.

Itwasthe same, slightly dim youth from that day after all, the one who pronounced words wrong with such confidence he could convince the listener his hearing was the one at fault.

Leading the group towards his house, Evan entertained their questions about the town and its history. But Delos’s words seemed to have engraved themselves into his mind’s wall, refusing to leave.

The one who answered the door was Celie.

Evan had hoped she would, so instead of unlocking it himself, he’d rung the bell to his own house. But he’d not had enough time to prepare himself to see her, so as soon as Celie came into view, his nervous system froze.

Celie looked up at him, all pretty eyes and delicate lashes so similar to their mother. But a sharp facial structure and high cheekbones that were the carbon copy of their father. She even stared at Evan like their father used to, expectantly, without uttering a word.

Evan blinked. Then cleared his throat.

What was he supposed to do? Hug? Shake hands? High five?

Oh, no... He had totalk?

But instead of opening his mouth and delivering a reunion speech, his malfunctioning brain led his malfunctioning legs around his sister and inside the house, without sparing her a word.

God help me, my little sister is finally home!

A mixture of squeals and complaints and sighs flowed into the house after Evan as the group entered, the two girls glued to Celie’s neck almost instantly. The boys blew a breath of relief when they found all their luggage safe in the living room.

“Do make yourselves at home,” Evan said, taking off his coat and sliding it over the crook of his arms, trying to act as elegant as possible.

What was he supposed to do next? He had to be hospitable, buthowexactly? He’d hardly ever had guests over, and even when an unfortunate soul did enter his house, Aaron was the one who attended to them.

Where the hell was Aaron?

Celie glanced at him every now and then as she consoled Elysia, who was whining about the ache in her feet.

With a single eye-scan, Evan noticed several things about his sister. Her hair was lighter than it was a year ago. She’d probably dyed it. Her skin, which used to be as pale as Evan’s, was golden-kissed, perfectly tanned. And both her ears were pierced. She wore a loose-fitting t-shirt and denim shorts, unlike the dresses she used to wear before she left for school.